THE DETROIT JEWISH MEWS
Friday, September 1, 1978 19
Sexual Life of Bedouin Studied
By MOSHE RON
The Jewish News Special
Israel Correspondent
TEL AVIV — A member
of Kibutz Hashita, Shabtai
Levy, has written a re-
search work about life of
nine Bedouin tribes in
Northern Sinai. He bas
lived in the desert many
years studying the customs
of the Bedouins and collect-
ing research material. He is
a teacher of natural science
on his kibutz.
Levy found that Bedouin
have intercourse twice a
week on Tuesday and Fri-
day. The Bedouin woman
chooses her most beautiful
nightshirt. There is no
love-play between the
couple and the intercourse
lasts about 15 minutes. Af-
terwards, the woman
washes herself in the tent,
the man outside.
There are cases in which a
Bedouin has sexual inter-
course only once a week.
But if a Bedouin woman or
man refrains from having
sexual intercourse, they
risk a divorce. After a birth
of a child, sexual relations
are interrupted for 40 days.
e
'e
The research book,
published by Levy, con-
tains details about the
daily life of the Bedouins.
Today, Bedouins in
Southern Sinai have
much better social and
medical conditions than
before because of help
from the Israelis.
Bedouin strive to have
many children. A childless
woman is boycotted by the
tribe. There are only 3 per-
cent childless Bedouin wo-
men. Unfertile women take
pills, made of 40 plants.
There is another Bedouin
custom in this case: the
husband of an unpregnant
woman invites members of
his tribe to a meal in his eral children together,
tent. During the meal he when they become at least
suddenly throws a black dog seven years old.
Every Bedouin donates
on the head of his wife.
Panic breaks out and the something for each cir-
cumcised
child. The
woman become hysterical.
The shock is supposed to ceremony of circumci-
help her to become pre- sion is one of the most
important events. All re-
gnant.
Another treatment: the latives are invited. All
childless woman goes with bring gifts.
The ceremony takes place
an old, experienced Bedouin
woman to the desert. She is in three tents, one for men, a
put into a swarm of ants and second for women, a third
showered with cold water. for children who are being
The Bedouins believe that circumcised. On the first
this treatment leads to suc- day there is a big meal with
dancing and singing. On the
cessful intercourse.
In another treatment, the second day the circumcision
husband of a childless takes place. In recent years
woman is ordered to shoot a it is carried out with modern
wolf, to tear off his skin, fill instruments and the chil-
it with straw and give it to dren hardly cry during the
his wife. When the skin act.
After the circumcision,
dries, the woman covers
herself with the skin and the children remain in the
tent
until the circumcision
takes a shower.
Often the reason for a heals. Then they return to
childless couple is the their parents.
The Bedouins maintain
husband. He expells his
wife, she marries another that girls must be circum-
cised in order to weaken
man and has children.
Until lately the Bedouins their lust. The Bedouins
did not know about birth treat adultery of a woman
control pills. Now women as a major crime, which can
with many children ask the only be revenged by blood.
Israeli health institutions Circumcisions of girls are
to provide them with the often carried out by their
own mothers.
pill.
Until a few years ago, Be-
For birth, the Bedouin
woman prepares food. douins generally expected
to
live 50 years. Owing to
Neighbors cook for her.
Older women serve as mid- the medical help, which
they
receive from the Israeli
wives. After the birth the
mother lies for two days authorities, they now live
much
longer. They still use
without moving. On the
third day she washes her- "witch-medicines" against
self, dresses and leaves the illnesses, but the Israeli
tent. After a week she re- health institutions have
turns to the household and created a revolution in med-
ical aid among them. Once a
work in the fields.
If a girl is born, she is cir- week a doctor visits their
tents
in the Sinai Desert.
cumcised like a boy. As
Serious patients are
there is a big celebration
with great expense on this removed by helicopters
occasion, the Bedouin to the hospital in
makes the Brit Mila for sev- Beersheba. Medical aid is
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goes on. The state has infil-
trated the desert tribes,
which have come nearer to
civilization. It is certain
that the traditional way of
life of the Bedouin will
weaken and disappear in
the end.
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